Archive for July, 2008
Beretta Introduces New Shotgun Rebate Program: Beretta Bucks
Posted by: | CommentsBeretta USA announces their Beretta Bucks promotion, offering customers an exciting incentive to buy a Beretta shotgun and enjoy a free Beretta shopping spree.
Beginning August 1, with the purchase of any Beretta Urika 2, Xtrema 2, 686 White Onyx, 687 Silver Pigeon II or 687 Silver Pigeon V shotgun, the customer will receive up to $300 in Beretta Bucks that can be redeemed online at Beretta USAs e-Store for Beretta clothing, accessories or pro shop products. The Beretta Bucks promotion runs through December 31, 2008. To take advantage of the Beretta Bucks program, customers must purchase one or more of the above Beretta shotguns on or between August 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.
Customers simply complete a coupon and mail it in along with the required documentation. They will receive a special code to use in Beretta USAs e-Store. This offer is good on new products purchased in the United States only.
“The Beretta Bucks promotion offers customers an additional incentive to buy one of our shotguns for the hunting or holiday season,” stated Patrick McDonald, vice president of sales and marketing. “This promotion also provides a free and easy way for our customers to experience some of our other products like Beretta clothing and accessories.”
For additional information on the Beretta Bucks promotion, visit a Beretta dealer or visit the Beretta web site.
Information On Florida’s “Guns to Work” Law
Posted by: | CommentsThere have been various reports in the media regarding the recent court ruling on Florida’s “Guns to Work” law. The law, which allows law-abiding Florida citizens to keep a gun locked in their car while at work, was challenged by the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
In an effort to clear things up, the National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida released this joint announcement:
National Rifle Association & Unified Sportsmen of Florida
INFORMATION SHEET
Federal Judge Hands Huge Defeat to Florida Business Lobby on “Guns-at-Work” law
The Florida Chamber of Commerce and The Florida Retail Federation argued for three years that business owners had an absolute right to control their employees. That’s why they kept calling it the “take-your-guns-to-work” legislation.
They claimed they could search employee vehicles and ban firearms from those vehicles in the employer’s parking lot. They claimed businesses didn’t care if customers had guns in cars, they only cared about their right to control employees. When the legislature passed the law protecting the rights of workers, The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation filed a lawsuit in federal court asking the Court to throw out the law.
They argued that the law requiring businesses to allow guns in vehicles in their parking lots constituted an unconstitutional “taking” of their property. In court, the federal judge ruled against them - THEY LOST.
They argued that OSHA regulations require them to provide a safe work environment for their workers, which required them to bans guns in parking lots to comply with OSHA requirements. In court, the federal judge ruled against them - THEY LOST.
They argued that, as employers, they had an absolute right to control the conduct of their employees and could ban guns from employee vehicles in company parking lots while employees were at work. In court, the federal judge ruled against them - THEY LOST.
Those are the three points argued by the Chamber and the Retail Federation. THEY LOST ON ALL THREE POINTS.
At the hearing and in his ruling, the judge complained about language drafted by the legislature saying that it doesn’t give businesses clear guidance on whether the laws allows business owners to ban customers from having guns in their cars in parking lots. Rather that clear up the confusion according to the intent of the legislature, he ruled that businesses can prohibit customers from keeping guns in their in the parking lot.
CURRENT STATUS:
The judge upheld the new NRA-supported law.
If a business has a gun ban policy, employees who possess a valid Concealed Weapons License are exempt from the gun ban policy and cannot be fired for exercising their gun rights.
If a business has a gun ban policy and no employee has a valid CW license, then that business can also ban customers from having guns locked in their vehicles in the parking lot while they shop or conduct business.
A business may not search vehicles to see if a person has a firearm; may not ask if a person has a firearm in the vehicle; may not ask if a person has a CW license.
PRACTICAL EFFECT:
Before the law passed, employees had no protection from anti-gun employers. They had no recourse. They had to give up their firearm and self-defense rights or be fired. They now have protection. WORKERS WON - BUSINESS LOBBY LOST
Due to the judge’s ruling based on inartful language, business owners can post signs notifying customers that they are prohibited from having firearms locked in their vehicles while in the parking lots. CUSTOMERS DON’T HAVE TO PATRONIZE A BUSINESS THAT DOESN’T RESPECT THEIR RIGHT TO KEEP A GUN IN THEIR CAR - THEY CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY ELSEWHERE - CUSTOMERS WIN - BUSINESS LOSES
Spokespersons for the Florida Chamber and the Florida Retail Federation are claiming victory, praising the judge for ruling that businesses can keep customers from having firearms in their vehicles in parking lots. It remains to be seen if business owners will agree that they won anything. They probably wish the Florida Chamber and the Florida Retail Federation would just shut up and quit alienating customers.
Our position is: Big Business lost. The People won.
Rock River Arms has introduced a new AR-15 variant: the LAR-15 Elite Comp. Guaranteed to shoot 1.5″ MOA, the Elite Comp features a number of very nice features, typically seen only on nicely upgraded AR rifles.
Chambered in 5.56 NATO (.223 Remington), the LAR-15 Elite Comp has a forged A4 upper with a 16″ chrome-lined barrel with a 1:9″ twist. The threaded barrel features a RRA Tactical Muzzle Brake standard.
Sighting is handled by the combination of a flip front sight gas block assembly and a PADS flip rear sight.
The trigger is a two-stage match trigger in a winter trigger guard. The front end features a RRA half-quad, free-float mid-length rail system. The pistol grip is an Ergo SureGrip.
The buttstock is my favorite: the Magpul CTR stock. The Magpul is fully adjustable, feels very good when the rifle is mounted, and is designed in such a way as to prevent any inadvertent adjustment of the length.
I currently have a LAR-15 from Rock River Arms that I bought before they announced the Elite Comp. On my LAR-15, I installed the Magpul buttstock, the front flip up sight/gas block, rear flip up sight, and the SureGrip. All totaled, I paid more than what Rock River is asking for the Elite Comp.
The LAR-15 Elite Comp ships with only one magazine. I would expect at least two magazines at this price point.
MSRP is listed at $1470, and advertised prices start very close to this number. Dealers are accepting orders now, and the Elite Comp is due to ship in the third quarter of 2008.
Gun Rights Radio Network: Podcasts for Every Type of Gun Owner
Posted by: | Comments
Two years ago, my wife bought me my first iPod. I soon discovered ‘podcasting’ and the wide variety of free programming offered through iTunes. One of the first programs I discovered was the Gun Rights Advocate podcast hosted by Mark Vanderberg.
Podcasts, for those that don’t know, are audio (and in some cases video) files that you can download to listen to on your computer or iPod. Podcasts are most-often given away for free and follow a format similar to talk radio. Unlike traditional talk-radio, podcasts are pre-recorded.
Vanderberg began hosting a second podcast, Gun Rights News, and started forming alliances with other gun podcasters like Kenn Blanchard of The Urban Shooter. Vanderberg’s continuing efforts have brought us the Gun Rights Radio Network.
The Gun Rights Radio Network (GRRN) is a group of nine podcasters who work together to bring the public high-quality programing on a wide variety of firearms topics. From gun reviews by Massad Ayoob and John Strayer on the ProArms Podcast to Doc Wesson’s insights into the Mosin Nagant rifles at The Shot Show, there is something for everyone over at GRRN.
Fantastic Raffle to Raise Money for a Fellow Gun Owner
Posted by: | CommentsOver at the SIGForum, they have organized a raffle to benefit one of their members who is having some medical and subsequently monetary issues. To benefit him, a fellow member has organized a raffle. The prizes include an unfired Sig P225, a brand new P226, a shotgun, a Walther P22, a Citizen Ecodrive watch, Bose speakers, custom gun work, ammo, holster, tactical lights and much more. There are a total of 32 prizes.
Raffle tickets are only $1 each (you can buy as many as you want). All proceeds go to benefit the SIGForum member. The drawing will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2008.
Take a look at what the prizes and consider donating a few extra bucks to benefit a fellow gun owner.
Ruger SR9 Pistols Upgraded: The Recalled Ruger Pistol Sports Several New Improvements
Posted by: | CommentsRuger’s SR9 pistol was introduced in Fall of 2007 and became very popular with people looking for a full-sized, slim pistol. However, a small design flaw was found that could cause an unintentional discharge if dropped in just the right way. Ruger began a very large recall to fix this problem. I am unaware if any pistols ever experienced an accidental discharge that Ruger was able to produce in the lab.
One of the improvements on the SR9 is the trigger redesign which reduces overtravel and length of pull.
Ruger continues to upgrade the recalled pistols in a ‘first come, first served’ manner.
From Ruger:
Update- We have begun shipping the first retrofitted SR9 pistols and continue to send shipping boxes to customers on a weekly basis.
As you will see, a number of parts have been changed in the new design. These parts include:
The Trigger Assembly- A number of parts in the trigger assembly were replaced, but the trigger itself is most notable among them. Although the original design has a two-piece trigger, it was comprised of an inner and outer “shoe,” and the inner shoe was not visible. The new design incorporates a visible inner trigger of a blade design. The redesign has had the desirable effect of reducing trigger overtravel. In addition, with the inner trigger blade depressed, the length-of-pull is noticeably reduced.
The Magazine Latches- magazine latches were changed on a rolling basis during production of the original design. Retrofitted pistols with the older latches will receive the newer version, which will allow them to work well with any SR9 magazine variation.
The Magazine Disconnect and Magazine Disconnect Spring have been replaced with different units.
The Striker Blocker and Striker Blocker Spring have been replaced with different units.
RCBS Rotary Case Media Separator: Outstanding Case Cleaning Acessory for Reloading
Posted by: | CommentsLike a lot of shooters, I reload my own ammunition. Cleaning the brass before running through the sizing and seating processes is always a good idea. I’ve tried washing the cartridge cases with various cleaning products, but have always come back to tumbling with walnut and corn cob media.
Separating the cases from the media has always been a bit of a chore for me. Not terribly difficult, but not very easy either. I have tried different sifters and separators, but never found one I really liked. That all changed when I bought the RCBS Rotary Case Media Separator
This media separator is simple and it works! Two large halves form a clamshell-like case that catches the media in the bottom half, while the top half closes to trap the dust and significantly reduce noise. Inside the case is the separating device: another, smaller clamshell-like case with sifting holes and rotating handles.
The system is easy. Open the outer case and the inner separator. Pour the media and brass out of the tumbler into the separator. Close the separator and outer case. Turn the handle a few times and you are done. All of the media has dropped into the lower part of the case, leaving you with just shiny brass in the separator.
In my experience, the separator holds about 500 .38 Special cases and media. More than enough for most of the tumblers on the market.
Cleaning the RCBS Media Separator is easy: just wipe it down or hose it off. It is all heavy-duty plastic, so there are no parts to rust.
I was pleased with the ease in which the whole system works. I was very impressed by the reduced noise from this device as compared to other media separators.
RCBS has a MSRP of $39.95 on the Media Separator, which I figure is a fair price. However, the rotary separator is listed for only $33.82 on Amazon
Louisiana Governor Jindal Signs Worker Protection Bill Into Law
Posted by: | CommentsOn July 2, 2008, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 51 into law. SB 51 allows all law-abiding employees, invitees, and customers to keep firearms locked in their vehicles while parked on publicly accessible parking lots, unless state or federal law already prohibits the possession of firearms on the premises, or the vehicle in question is company-owned or leased.While SB 51 primarily affects parking lots that are accessible to the general public, businesses which provide secure parking for its customers or employees (parking that is inaccessible to the general public) must also provide storage facilities, such as lockers, for their customers or employees to temporarily place their firearms, or provide alternative parking for customers or employees who wish to transport and store firearms in their private motor vehicles. That alternative parking area must be reasonably close to the secure parking area. SB 51, now ACT 684, is effective 8/15/2008.
Please thank Governor Jindal for signing this critical bill into law. You may contact the governor by clicking here.
